The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to inspect autonomous vehicles. An autonomous vehicle carries a UAV (or “drone”) in a protected area, for example, in a glove compartment, trunk, etc. Between rides, the UAV can be deployed to inspect the autonomous vehicle. Images from the UAV can be sent to other components for image analysis. When an inspection is completed, the UAV can return to the protected area. The UAV can inspect both the interior and exterior of an autonomous vehicle. When an inspection is passed, the autonomous vehicle can begin a new ride. When an inspection is failed, the autonomous vehicle can report for repairs or summon a tow vehicle.

Various measures (for example methods, UAVs, controllers and computer programs) are provided in relation to controlling a UAV. The UAV is caused to provide energy to and receive energy from a given vehicle. The received energy is used to provide power to at least one component of the UAV.

A ground station device for a plurality of unmanned aircraft, comprising an upper face, which comprises a plurality of receptacles for positioning a plurality of unmanned aircraft, a data interface for connecting the ground station device to a control unit, and a power supply device for charging the unmanned aircraft. The ground station device is designed to be stackable so as to form a stack with at least one other ground station device.

A UAV package delivery system includes a cabinet for deployment inside a merchant facility. The cabinet is configured for storing and charging UAVs on-site at the merchant facility remote from a command and control of the UAVs. The cabinet includes a plurality of cubbies, power circuitry, communication circuitry, and a controller. The cubbies are each sized and shaped to receive one of the UAVs. The power circuitry is configured for charging the UAVs when the UAVs are stowed within the cubbies. The communication circuitry is configured for communicating with the UAVs when the UAVs are proximate to the cabinet or stowed within the cubbies and for communicating with the command and control. The controller causes the UAV package delivery system to retrieve status information from the UAVs, relay the status information to the command and control, and relay mission data between the command and control and the UAVs.

Provided is a station for an unmanned aerial robot includes a control box having a landing surface formed with a guide mark which guides a landing point of the unmanned aerial robot, an elevator disposed in the control box and movable vertically, and a landing stand coupled to the elevator and have a height of a highest point located at least above the landing surface during vertical movement. The present disclosure can be linked with an artificial intelligence module, a robot, an augmented reality (AR) device, a virtual reality (VR) device, devices related to 5G services and the like.

A charging and recharging drone assembly system and apparatus are provided. The system has a unique charging pad having a plurality of cones which direct the legs of a charging drone into a specific location on the charging pad for charging/re-charging. A QR code may be located in the middle of a cover of a charging pad so that the charging drone may detect the charging pad from the air and may direct the charging drone to land on a specific spot on the landing pad for charging. The movable cover may cover the charging pad when the charging pad is not in use to protect the charging pad.

A payload coupling apparatus is provided including a housing, wherein the housing is adapted for attachment to a first end of a tether, a slot extending downwardly from an outer surface of the housing towards a center of the housing thereby forming a lower lip on the housing beneath the slot, and wherein the slot is adapted to receive a handle of a payload.

A method to enable autonomous and tele-operation of tele-operated robots for maintenance of a property around known and unknown obstacles may include using an unmanned aerial vehicle for obtaining additional data relating to the property and obstacles within the property and plan a path around the obstacles using data from sensors on-board the tele-operated robot and the aerial image. A method may also provide optimization of total time needed for performing the property maintenance and the labor costs in situations where manual intervention is needed for navigating the tele-operated robot around obstacles on the property or for removing obstacles on the property. Embodiments further include systems and devices practicing the method.

A system comprising a computer programmed to identify a connected location of a vehicle at which a user device is connected to a first network and a disconnected location of the vehicle at which the user device is disconnected from the first network. Upon further determining that the user device has not connected to a second network within a first predetermined time, the computer is further programmed to activate an aerial drone container to an open position.

An unmanned article storage box for automatically receiving an article from a drone and storing the article includes: a box main body configured to form an accommodating space for storing the article therein; an article receiver configured to slidingly be carried in and out from the box main body; a sliding unit configured to slidingly move the article receiver by having a first end that is fastened to the article receiver and a second end that is fastened to an inside of the box main body; a power unit configured to transfer a power to enable the article receiver to move along the sliding unit; and a controller configured to control the power unit.